Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Lanett must win to be in. The Panthers face no. 4 ranked Ranburne on Friday night for a playoff spot. Currently, they are tied with Ranburne for no. 4, so the winner takes all this week. The top four teams in each region get a bid. They will not qualify for a home game in Week 1 with a win, however, due to last week’s loss against Horseshoe Bend. 

“We just got to win. We win, we’re in,” said Head Coach RJ McDonald. 

Lanett is back home after being on the road for three weeks. The team will attempt to bounce back after four straight losses. 

“We’ve kind of dealt with a little bit of a tough little stretch here, you know, that’s on me as the head coach, I got to have them prepared better and prepare for all those scenarios on the road,” said of the recent road trip.  

As far as similar opponents, both teams have identical 2-3 records in the region. Head coach RJ McDonald said that the Bulldogs are a physical team. Ranburne favors the run, rushing for an average of 233.5 yards per game. 

“They’re very big. They like to run the ball right at you and make you like it,” said McDonald. “[We] tell the guys the importance of being physical and playing hard and being tough, mentally tough. It’s gonna be a beating…You just got to physically prepare for that and just be ready for it.”

The Panthers staff has been using this week to motivate the players. 

“It’s just an important game, man, like, if you can’t get up and get ready for this, you know, what are we doing?” said the head coach.  “That’s just what we’ve been preaching to them, just the importance of this ball game, where we want to go, and the noise we can make come November,” said McDonald. 

Friday night will also serve as senior night for a few players, Alajawon Whitfield, Keondae Huguley, Yonatan Morales Cobon and Christian Upshaw who will be playing in hopes it will not be their final game for the Panthers. 

“Support these guys…I just hope people come out and support them and help Lanett get in the playoffs,” McDonald said.